Time for What Matters- How to Make Things Happen Time…it’s something many of us want more of and what we value more as we age. It seems to be the topic of discussion everywhere we go and continually what we are desperately trying to manage. Why does it seem to be so difficult to manage our […]

Time for What Matters- How to Make Things Happen

Time…it’s something many of us want more of and what we value more as we age. It seems to be the topic of discussion everywhere we go and continually what we are desperately trying to manage. Why does it seem to be so difficult to manage our time? And how do we make time for what matters most when we feel as though we cannot possibly fit another thing into our schedule?

You know exactly what I am talking about because you have either heard or said things like…

“I wish I had time to exercise but…”

“I wish I could meet for coffee but…”

“I wish I could be there for your baseball game but…”

“I wish I could join the Bible Study but…”

Most of us at some point have “talked” about what we wish we could do. But talking and wishing are not how to make things happen.

If we want time for what matters, the only way it can happen is when what we “wish” for becomes a PRIORITY.

Once it is a priority, we will make it happen. But we still need to do more…

We need to write it down and then add it to our schedule.

Can it really be this easy? Yes, it can, as long as you know and truly desire what you make priority.

Yep…that’s a whole other article.

So what’s the easiest way to get started?

First… Consider making a list of what matters most to you. When we are clear about what’s most important, we will find it easier to prioritize and make wise decisions.

Second… Make it a priority by scheduling it. Mark it in your calendar, “reserve” the time, like when you make reservations for dinner.

Why schedule it? Why is this so important? Once we have something in writing and scheduled, we become committed. This doesn’t mean we cannot reschedule or cancel, but we are more likely to follow through if we have it scheduled versus if we just “think”, “wish”, or “talk” about doing something.

Scheduling is also another way of reminding us what’s most important. As I mentioned in a previous article, the distractions in life can steal our time, focus, and energy. Keeping a list and scheduling what matters most will help us experience a happier, more fulfilling life.

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” -Stephen R. Covey

This does not have to be complicated. You can start with a baby step. Consider scheduling one thing from your list next week. Remember, all things, good or bad, start as a habit.

Tips and suggestions:

Have some sort of calendar. A calendar on your refrigerator may work well for some but for most women, we benefit more from a weekly calendar, even one with 15 minute increments can help.

Be easy on yourself. This may not happen overnight. No matter the size of your step, remember you are still moving forward.

It is ok to allow flexibility in your schedule. As a matter of fact, I encourage it.

Your plans may not always work out as you expect. Don’t fight them, learn from them.

Your priorities will change as you grow. What was important when you were 18 may not be when you are 30.

If you absolutely cannot find the time, I ever so kindly ask you to consider being honest with yourself. Because the truth in the matter is this, we typically will make time for what we really want to do. So is it true that you do not have time for what matters or are you excusing yourself because you really don’t want to make time for what matters or it’s not exactly clear to you what is most important right now in your life?

It is also possible that you have not considered the current things on your schedule. I invite you to take a closer look at your schedule. For most of us there is at least one thing we could say no to, to make time for what matters, like that reality show that really doesn’t add value to your life. Ouch!

Hey, I am just being honest because I have had to do the same things with my schedule. I completely understand that the truth does not always feel good. But I promise, in the long run, you will be glad someone took a bold step to share these things with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. It is my desire to encourage and empower you to love yourself and love your life by providing practical tools to help you on your journey.

If this article has helped you, please consider helping someone else by sharing it on your favorite Social Media site.

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What Matters Most – What to Invest If you asked someone what matters most to them, what do you think they would say? Common responses to this question may include family, health, happiness, and some may say their career or income rank high on their list. I came across a study that reported, interestingly, most […]

What Matters Most – What to Invest

If you asked someone what matters most to them, what do you think they would say?

Common responses to this question may include family, health, happiness, and some may say their career or income rank high on their list.

I came across a study that reported, interestingly, most developed nations, including USA, Canada, Western and Central European as well as Nordic countries tend to value life satisfaction and health most. No surprise, right?

Well, regardless of what is most important to you, I shared in my article, How to Get What You Want, “If you really hope to get what you want in life, the things that really matter, there is only one way to get them. You will need to invest in them, you will need to do your part to make these things happen. It doesn’t matter if you want to build your retirement portfolio, a business, a relationship, or a healthy body, you are going to need to make an investment.”

So when it comes to investing in what matters most, how do we know what to invest? Let’s first consider what resources we have. This may include time, money, and/or material things.

It’s a great blessing to be able to give money or material things, but when we think about it, I believe everyone would agree, that the greatest and most precious resource we have to invest is time.

It is also the greatest sacrifice we can give because money and material things come and go, but once our time is gone, it’s gone.

The giving of your time is the most important and the most valuable investment, because when you give your time, what you are really giving is yourself.

Even though this is a great sacrifice, keep in mind, if we are not willing to invest time in what matters most, we cannot expect to experience the kind of life we desire.

You may already be investing time into what matters most to you. If you wonder if you are investing wisely, here are two ways you can find out.

I encourage you to find some quiet time to reflect and then make a list of what matters most. You can refer to my article What Matters Most-How to be Reminded if you need inspiration or if you wish to discover why this is so important.

Make a list of ways you can invest in what matters most to you. To keep this from being an overwhelming task, consider focusing on one thing that matters most. To help you get started, I shared my list below.

Considering what matters most to me, I first asked myself, “What is my part in experiencing these things? What do I need to invest?” Below are my answers as well as my list of what matters most.

What Matters Most-How to be Reminded What matters most to you? Do you know? Have you ever paused to truly reflect on this question? What matters most to us may not always be at the forefront of our minds and it’s no surprise. We go about our day to day activities, playing multiple roles and […]

What Matters Most-How to be Reminded

What matters most to you? Do you know? Have you ever paused to truly reflect on this question?

What matters most to us may not always be at the forefront of our minds and it’s no surprise. We go about our day to day activities, playing multiple roles and sometimes we are simply focusing on getting through the day.

What matters most are the things that are important to us. They are what get us out of bed in the morning, what we fight for and believe in.

If we don’t pay attention, even when we know what is important, we can become distracted. And sadly, there are so many distractions in life; our jobs, schedules, material things, technology, excessive commitments, sometimes even our relationships.

Distractions can take control by stealing our focus and knocking us off balance. This can lead to trouble in every area of our life, especially our health and happiness.

But every once in a while something can cause us to stop and question what really matters and what is most important in this life. There are a number of things that can shift our perspective or serve as a reminder; sometimes we see a movie, hear a song or message, or we may witness or experience a tragedy.

Recently I heard Toby Keith’s song, My List, and I was quickly reminded that there are more important things in my life than what I had on my list of things to do that day. It was a needed reminder. As my friends and family know, it is not unusual for me to work more than play or give work precedence over my relationships.

That day not only was I reminded, I also made a decision to make a list of what is most important so that I can be continually reminded. This list serves as a practical yet powerful tool for me to prioritize better and keep my balance. This leads to a healthier and much happier me. And of course, it’s never just about us, those around us are affected as well.

It’s easy to lose our focus with the distractions life can bring. I encourage you to invest some quiet time to reflect and then make your own list of what matters most.

Keep in mind, when we are clear about what is important, it is easier to prioritize and make decisions.

If this resonates with you but you struggle prioritizing or balancing your life/schedule, consider a free consultation to discuss a variety of options and resources that can help.

If you have found this article helpful, please consider sharing it.

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]]>http://nancydahlke.com/blog/what-matters-most/feed/1Getting What You Want Part 2 – What Can You Do?http://nancydahlke.com/blog/gettingwhatyouwantpart2/
http://nancydahlke.com/blog/gettingwhatyouwantpart2/#respondThu, 17 Mar 2016 17:15:35 +0000http://nancydahlke.com/?p=1029Nancy Dahlke

Getting What You Want Part 2 – What Can You Do? It is natural to experience a desire for something more or something better in our life. The thought of financial freedom, a profitable career doing what we love, traveling the world, having stronger self-confidence, or a leaner body, is exciting! Desires can motivate and give […]

Getting What You Want Part 2 – What Can You Do?

It is natural to experience a desire for something more or something better in our life. The thought of financial freedom, a profitable career doing what we love, traveling the world, having stronger self-confidence, or a leaner body, is exciting! Desires can motivate and give us hope. But getting what we want may not come quickly or easily and we may at times find ourselves feeling defeated and discouraged.

What happens? We may have a clear vision of what we desire to have, to be, and experience but then comes the part of figuring out how to make them happen. We may have a ton of ideas but wondering where to start can be overwhelming, so overwhelming in fact that we may not get past this point.

It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at times when you look at your dreams and desires. It is my hope that you do not give up.

If your dreams and desires come from your heart, I believe they are meant to be experienced.

If you are interested in a few simple ways to get started, perhaps the next steps below will help.

Before we get started with your next steps, I need to share with you an important principle when it comes to getting what you want in life and it is this, no matter what you want, there will be some sort of investment on your part.

Okay, you may want to click off the article right now but let me remind you that to get started, this does not have to be difficult or overwhelming. It may even be fun. An investment can be as simple as learning something new as I will show you below.

Here are some next steps to getting what you want…

To experience your wants and desires it is critical to first define them and follow up with evaluating and executing your next steps. I encourage you to focus on one life category at a time.

Keep in mind there are additional ways to experience your wants and desires. This article only focuses on what YOU can do. As you invest in your desire, additional resources and opportunities present themselves to help you.

The questions below will help you clarify your next steps.

Choose a life category you want to change or improve: health, finances, career, self-perception, spirituality, relationships, etc. Define your wants/desires in this category.

What would help you to know or learn so you can experience what you want/desire?

Based on your answer to #2, how can you grow or improve your skills in this area?

Choose an action item from your list in #3 and follow through.

Here are some examples based on the questions above…

I want to be healthier and have more energy.

It would help me to understand the contributing factors to being healthy and having more energy.

I can go to www.Google.com and research how to be healthy and have more energy. (Typing a question will give you the best search results.) I can write down or print the results.

I can then take one baby step from the results I find in my Google search. For example, if the search revealed that junk food is making me tired, I can eliminate the junk food from my house. If drinking more water will help me, I can start to carry a water bottle with me wherever I go.

Like I said, this does not have to be difficult or overwhelming. Start with one life category, answer the questions above and commit to taking baby steps until you are ready to take bigger ones.

If you are thinking that this sounds easy, you are right, it is easy. Don’t underestimate the power of a practical tool. Sometimes that is all you need to help you get started.

If you found the questions helpful, you will love the worksheet I created for you.

How to Get What You Want It’s no surprise that we live in an “instant” society. More and more we are introduced to the easy way to get what you want. You can push a button to open a door, put your hand under a sink for running water, then put them in an automatic hand […]

How to Get What You Want

It’s no surprise that we live in an “instant” society. More and more we are introduced to the easy way to get what you want. You can push a button to open a door, put your hand under a sink for running water, then put them in an automatic hand dryer. You don’t even have to push a button to call someone, you can tell your smartphone to do it for you. We could go on and on.

If you are reading this article in hopes of learning more easy ways to get what you want, you may be disappointed. But there are times in life when someone shares with us what we “need” to hear versus what we “want” to hear and we find ourselves grateful that they took the time. If you continue reading, you will find that today, I am someone that took the time.

Here is what you “need” to know, “If you really hope to get what you want in life, the things that really matter, there is only one way to get them. You will need to invest in them, you will need to do your part to make these things happen”.

It doesn’t matter if you want to build your retirement portfolio, a business, a relationship, or a healthy body, you are going to need to make an investment.

We may be able to get some things instantly, but the things that really matter will never be instant.

You may be thanking me already or you may be a little discouraged. Please, know my intention is not to discourage you but encourage you. Life is so much more fulfilling when we take the time for what is really important. And don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. Below are some tips on what you can do next.

The first thing you can do is make a list of what you really want in your life. If it helps, you can refer to the following categories: career, health, finances, relationships, self-perception, and Spirituality.

Next choose one category to focus on and make a list of all the things you can do to make them happen. Keep your list handy and start with a few baby steps to move you closer to what you want.

To get what you want, ask yourself daily, “What is one thing I can do today?”

Before long you will see yourself experiencing what you want and you will feel good that you took the time and invested in what really matters.

Watch for next week’s article where I share more tips on how to invest in what matters most.

Host The DREAM Experience I’m excited to announce that The DREAM Experience can now be hosted at your home, organization, or favorite venue! Since launching the DREAM Experience, I’ve been invited to speak at various women’s groups and private in-home gatherings. This got me thinking about creating a Hostess opportunity for women interested in […]

Host The DREAM Experience

I’m excited to announce that The DREAM Experience can now be hosted at your home, organization, or favorite venue! Since launching the DREAM Experience, I’ve been invited to speak at various women’s groups and private in-home gatherings. This got me thinking about creating a Hostess opportunity for women interested in customizing The DREAM Experience for their specific group’s needs in a private setting.

Here are some answers to some important questions you might have…

Who is The DREAM Experience for? This is for any woman that wants something more or better in their… Relationships • Health • Career • Finances • Emotional or Spiritual Life

What happens at The DREAM Experience? Nancy walks women through her 5 Step Process to living a more empowered life. She promotes a safe, relaxing, yet fun, atmosphere where women have the opportunity to learn how to take more control of their lives and at the same time love themselves and enjoy their journey.

What are the benefits of attending The DREAM Experience? Women learn how to effectively manage challenge and change, define or discover what they want, address any blockages, love and accept themselves, apply practical principles to help them experience peace, passion, purpose, and power, and also how to stay motivated on the path that leads to their dreams and desires.

What are the benefits of hosting The DREAM Experience? When you partner with Nancy you too are empowering women. Not only will you be impacting lives, you will also receive a special gift plus commission on ticket sales.

Interested? Have more Questions?

Click here to notify me of your interest. I will then contact you and we can discuss the details and address any questions you may have.

You can also download The DREAM Experience Hosting Opportunity flyer below.

New Year New You I have never heard anyone say, “I don’t want my life to get better”. The truth is that at some point in our lives we all want something new or better. That is why every year at this time many of us begin the new year with a new focus; that […]

New Year New You

I have never heard anyone say, “I don’t want my life to get better”. The truth is that at some point in our lives we all want something new or better. That is why every year at this time many of us begin the new year with a new focus; that being to improve our lives in some way. And with the new year, we become bombarded with messages about new year resolutions. We hear things like “ new year new you ” or take this 90-day challenge or this 30-day challenge. Let’s talk about the whole ” new year new you ” thing shall we?

It is no surprise that the average new year’s resolution is to lose weight and get in shape and there’s nothing wrong with this however I believe it is important to think about why we want these things. What is it that we really want? Doesn’t it really come down to wanting to be happy and having peace and enjoying our lives? I think about people focusing on losing weight and improving they’re outer life so they can be happy and have a better self-image; honestly that is like putting a band aid on it broken leg. It does not “heal” or resolve what we really want or need.

If you are looking for a ” new year new you ” that lasts, focus on your inner life.

If what we really want is to be happy and enjoy our journey, we need to focus on our inner life; our heart, our mind, attitudes, will and emotions. Now, don’t let the thought of this or of change overwhelm or discourage you. Changing and growing is nothing new for most of us. We are constantly growing and changing; we develop new skill sets in our jobs and careers, we learn new ways on how to cook a turkey or simplify cleaning our houses with toxic free chemicals. Focusing on our inner life is just improving ourselves on the inside.

Back to happiness; I do understand that experiencing happiness is not always easy. Things can get in the way. What gets in the way of our happiness…challenges… challenges in our circumstances, relationships, finances, careers, etc. It is life’s challenges that can steal our happiness. This is another reason why it’s important to focus on our inner life. Keep in mind…

We can’t be happy on the outside if we are not happy on the inside.

I remember being part of a conversation with a group of ladies at a social event. One lady was discussing the many issues she was constantly experiencing, wondering when her life would become easy. At one point, of course this was before I became a woman empowerment teacher, I said to her, “You do realize that you will always have challenges in your life”. Everyone stopped and looked at me. I can still see her expression. It was a look of shock or maybe it was disappointment that what I said was really true; that she will always have challenges in her life. My intent was not to hurt her in any way but instead to help her see the reality of what life really brings us all. We will all have challenges but how we decide to react and deal with these challenges determines how we will enjoy our journey as well as our level of happiness.

By focusing on our inner life we develop the skills to handle challenges that come our way.

Understanding why we want things helps us to know where we need to focus. We are so often deceived into thinking that specific things or people will bring us happiness. It is important to get to the core of our desires; what is in our heart to be, do and have? It is still good to be aware of our outer life of course, but just know that focusing on that alone will not bring the happiness, peace and the joy we are truly looking for.

So what if for this “ new year new you ” instead of focusing solely on changing your outside world you shift your focus on your inside world? You may be wondering how to go about this. There are numerous resources for you; books, DVDs, CDs, teachers, and speakers on the topic. You can also explore Google.com or search the selection of books in the self-help section of your local library.

These are all wonderful avenues for you. Another option for you is to read my book The 12 Principles… How to Create an Empowered Life. It is a self-help activity guide filled with practical ways (I call them awareness exercises) to grow your inner life. This book will help you find clarity with what you really want, how and where to focus as well as how to love who you are, accept challenging people, simplify and balance your life and so much more.

Good news for you…it won’t cost you anything because it is currently a free download on my website NancyDahlke.com.

Please remember, we can all focus on the outside but what really counts is what’s on the inside because what is inside always works its way out. What am I talking about…if you have anger, anxiety, frustration, fear, worry or disappointment inside of you it will work its way out and into your relationships, your focus, and ultimately your happiness level. Focus on the inside then everything can fall into place on the outside.

Whatever you choose, it is my hope that you do indeed experience great happiness this year and every year that follows. I love to empower women and you can too! If you have found this article helpful, please share it!

How to Be Grateful – 3 Things You Can Easily Do Today! This is supposed to be the best time of the year to be grateful. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner we see and hear messages all around reminding us. But you may wonder how to be grateful when you are surrounded […]

How to Be Grateful – 3 Things You Can Easily Do Today!

This is supposed to be the best time of the year to be grateful. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner we see and hear messages all around reminding us. But you may wonder how to be grateful when you are surrounded by negatives and you simply do not feel grateful. This story may help you find clarity…

I remember one particular day when I was young. My Mom heard me complaining about something. She immediately sat me down and proceeded to tell me about a family she knew very well. They were a young couple with five children that lived on a dairy farm not far from where we lived. One night while the young couple was out milking cows the house caught on fire. With tears in my Mom’s eyes she told me how all five children perished in the fire. I will never forget this story for as long as I live.

So why am I writing about such a tragic story? I’m sharing this with you today because it changed my life and it just might change yours too. Any time I start to think about something negative or feel sorry for myself for any reason I think about this family and what they endured. And I remember my Mom reminding me that no matter what I think I’m going through in my life there is somebody out there that is going through something worse.

The understanding that there is someone in the world that has a greater struggle has a way of humbling us.It is a simple reminder that we are blessed and that things could always be worse.

It is so easy to think about what we don’t have versus what we do. It’s almost as if it’s programmed in us to look for the negative before the positive.

Why be grateful?

Let’s be honest, face the truth, and acknowledge some things…

We all want to be happy and feel good.

When we think about negative things we feel negative emotions.

When we think about good things we physically and emotionally feel better.

Feeling grateful happens when we are focusing on good things.

What can you do to be grateful?

Even when we know it is beneficial to be grateful it is not always easy when we are in the middle of a trial. I want to help you, so here are 3 very practical things you can do today.

Ask yourself, “Could this be worse?” Then immediately be grateful that it isn’t.

Look for the gift. There is a treasure in every trial; an opportunity to become stronger, wiser, strengthen relationships, see wrong doors close and right doors open, etc.

Focus on what you have versus what you do not.

You may be thinking, “Well this is ridiculously easy.” or “Why is she writing about something that we all know to do?” Many of us do know these things however we don’t always remember to practice them.

These are 3 practical steps you can apply to help you be more grateful and experience greater peace and joy in every area of your life. If you find it challenging to be grateful consider writing these 3 steps on an index card. Keep your card with you and when you find yourself thinking negatively immediately read your card as a reminder to be grateful.

If you desire additional help consider taking advantage of my FREE no obligation coaching offer. Click below to learn more.

Oh and in case you were wondering what happened to the family in the story, the young couple went on to have four more children. Despite their tragedy the young couple built a family based on faith, hope, and love.

How to Eliminate Drama in Your Life Recently I met with a client that asked me, “How do I eliminate drama in my life?” She further explained a few situations she found herself in where she felt she actually was attracting the drama. This was my response… “Don’t feed it.” Of course she had a […]

How to Eliminate Drama in Your Life

Recently I met with a client that asked me, “How do I eliminate drama in my life?” She further explained a few situations she found herself in where she felt she actually was attracting the drama. This was my response…

“Don’t feed it.”

Of course she had a puzzled look on her face perhaps like the one you have now. Whatever we feed will grow. If you want a plant to grow you give it water and fertilizer. If you want your business to grow you feed it time and money. If you want your marriage to grow you feed it love and a whole bunch of patience. Ha… Ha…

When we feed something we are giving it attention and focus. This is what helps it grow.

So if you don’t want something to grow then don’t feed it. Makes sense right? Well that can be easier said than done. It is natural for us to want to tell somebody about something bad that happened to us. And that is okay as long as we keep it in perspective. We all benefit from the support of those who care about us but when we excessively talk about our problems we are feeding them; giving them attention and making them grow bigger than what they already are. I understand this concept because I have caught myself many times feeding things that I did not want to grow.

Let’s say you have an argument with a coworker. You go and talk to another coworker about what happened and then you call a friend on the way home and tell her what happened. The more you think about it the more upset you become because you are giving it attention and focus and it continues to grow. You then have a greater chance of staying upset and letting it affect the rest of your day. This does not help us if we are trying to eliminate drama in our life. I think you get the picture.

So how can you eliminate drama?

It helps to know your trigger; the point right before you are about to “feed” something. This will be different for every one of us. When I asked my client what her trigger was she expressed how she felt a burning inside and emotions that did not feel good. It was after her trigger where she began to focus on her negative emotions and then she released them on the people around her. You can imagine what happened next.

Once you learn to recognize your trigger you can then make a choice and ask yourself what kind of outcome you want. You may even ask yourself if it is worth your time and energy. It then becomes a matter of changing your focus and changing your thoughts. How can you occupy your mind and distract yourself from the negative person or situation? This of course will be unique to you and your situation.

My client and I discussed a variety of practical options and she decided on the one that resonated with her. She now has another “tool” in her tool belt. It may take some practice but with all things the more we do them the more a habit they become.

I encourage you to find your trigger and what you can do to change your focus and occupy your mind to distract yourself from negativity. I promise if you do this, you will eliminate a lot of drama in your life.

If you struggle with eliminating drama in your life consider taking advantage of my FREE Coaching offer. There is no obligation after our time together. I am here to encourage and equip you with practical tools to help you love yourself and love your life.

In my article 10 Signs You Are Not Living Empowered I write about what many women, and perhaps men, often experience in their daily lives. Here is a recap: Question your purpose in life Dread going to work Experience doubt, fear, worry, anxiety, frustration, or guilt Compare yourself to others Do not feel worthy or […]

Today’s article is short, sweet, and to the point. It offers encouragement in how you can live empowered with 5 steps. Let’s face it; you, like I, want to live a happy, successful life. But no matter what you want to accomplish, no matter how big or small, there are basic principles you need to understand and follow to experience that life.

Be clear on what you want and where you are going.

Let go of and release the things that hold you back.

Embrace, love and accept who you are.

Understand how to deal with distractions and challenges.

Stay motivated as you move toward your desires.

As you may know, helping women love themselves and their lives is a great passion of mine. So after years of hearing my clients share their pains, struggles, and opinion of themselves, I knew I needed to create a system they could follow to help them. From years of coaching, teaching, researching, and reflecting on my own life, I created a 5 step process to help women create an empowered life. Below are the principles that make up what I call The D.R.E.A.M. Process.

D…Discover your Desires. Having clarity of what we desire, you would think should be easy. However, in the “busy”ness of day-to-day life where women are over scheduled, over committed, over tired, continually accommodating others; many times having to compromise themselves, we can forget. Investing the time and discovering our passions and purpose is a foundational step to living empowered.

R…Release the Blockages. Many of us are unaware what we are thinking and how powerful our thoughts really are. Negative thoughts keep us from moving forward because they can turn into emotions like fear, worry, and doubt. Over time these emotions can leave us feeling paralyzed; unable to move forward in our lives. The good news is you can change and control your thoughts and finally release these blockages.

E…Express your Uniqueness. We are all beautiful and unique with gifts and talents. Sadly many women have allowed themselves to be deceived into thinking they are not good enough or worthy. Sometimes what we believe about ourselves is simply not true. You can discover the truth so you can confidently and freely express your uniqueness.

A…Apply Practical Principles. Feeling happy and having a positive attitude affects every area of our lives. Unfortunately we can be bombarded with people and circumstances that can make this a challenge. With the right tools you can overcome these challenges and experience peace, passion, purpose, and power. (Another resource to help you with this step is my book, The 12 Principles. If you want to learn more, you can download a free copy.)

M…Monitor to Motivate. Many times on our way to accomplishing our dreams and desires, we become distracted, discouraged and lose motivation. But when you learn how and where to focus, you can stay motivated and experience your dreams and desires with more ease and enjoyment. If you are still reading this, I believe there is a possibility you are experiencing one or many of the 10 Signs You Are Not Living Empowered.

If you do not love yourself or your life, you are NOT living empowered.

The good news is you can change your reality. If you are ready to make a change and learn how to create an empowered life, check out my workshop:

There is a lot of talk out there about “empowerment”. To help you better understand this article, let me explain first what it means to me. For me living empowered comes down to experiencing peace, passion, purpose, and power. It means being in control of my thoughts, actions and decisions, being authentic; living confidently, boldly, […]

There is a lot of talk out there about “empowerment”. To help you better understand this article, let me explain first what it means to me.

For me living empowered comes down to experiencing peace, passion, purpose, and power. It means being in control of my thoughts, actions and decisions, being authentic; living confidently, boldly, while expressing myself freely in a way that honors others, myself, and my God.

Now keep in mind that this is only my definition of living empowered. You may have your own definition as well.

You may still be unclear as to what living an empowered life looks like so today I want to share with you what it looks like to NOT live empowered. Below is a list of signs for you.

You are likely NOT living empowered if you often…

Question your purpose in life

Dread going to work

Experience doubt, fear, worry, anxiety, frustration, or guilt

Compare yourself to others

Do not feel worthy or important and lack confidence

Feel overwhelmed and out of balance

Compromise to make others happy

Find it difficult to get along with others

Feel discontent and discouraged

Do not feel desire or motivation

If any of these resonate with you, know you are not alone and you don’t have to stay where you are. You can move forward. The way to move forward is to first “learn how” to move forward. This is called personal growth. Now don’t roll your eyes. It does not have to be painful. It can be as simple as just becoming aware of where you are in your journey. It can also be as easy as reading a book for ten minutes a few times a week or watching a video message.

There are numerous ways you can accomplish this and you may be surprised the opportunities that present themselves to you once you become more aware.

Now please don’t be discouraged. We all have felt or still feel many of these. It does not mean you are doomed or a bad person. It simply means you are human, experiencing your own unique journey. It also means you have a choice whether to stay where you are or move forward to living an empowered life.

Understand and please keep this message in perspective. Living empowered does not mean every day is sunshine and roses. But when you are living empowered and challenges arise, you know how to handle them and quickly take control of your thoughts and react in a way that brings a positive outcome.

This is a process and may take some time. I encourage you to give yourself permission to be easy on yourself and find ways to enjoy your journey.

Living an empowered life can be achieved by every person that believes they can and it all starts with one decision; to take the first step and learn how to experience your own peace, passion, purpose, and power.

It is my purpose and passion to help you experienced an empowered life; to love yourself and love your life. To achieve this I believe it is critical to have the right tools and skills. I share these tools and skills in my six hour workshop The DREAM Experience Intensive, Create an Empowered Life Today.

If you desire to move forward into an empowered life, click below to learn more about The DREAM Experience.

]]>http://nancydahlke.com/blog/10-signs-you-are-not-living-empowered/feed/0Empowerment – What Is Your Biggest Question About How To Live An Empowered Life?http://nancydahlke.com/blog/what-is-your-biggest-question-about-how-to-live-an-empowered-life/
http://nancydahlke.com/blog/what-is-your-biggest-question-about-how-to-live-an-empowered-life/#respondThu, 27 Aug 2015 05:00:55 +0000http://nancydahlke.com/?p=908Nancy Dahlke

Do you know what it means to live empowered? Ever since I started providing empowerment coaching I’ve come to find that many women aren’t exactly sure about what it means to be or to live “empowered”. Considering our pop culture has no shortage of suggestions (wink), this confusion may be of no surprise to you; […]

Do you know what it means to live empowered?

Ever since I started providing empowerment coaching I’ve come to find that many women aren’t exactly sure about what it means to be or to live “empowered”. Considering our pop culture has no shortage of suggestions (wink), this confusion may be of no surprise to you; however, the answer may be simpler than you think…

To live empowered is to live with an internal sense of Purpose, Passion, and Peace!

Easier said than done? Only if you don’t have the right mindset and tools. Will you help? I am on a mission to help as many woman as possible to learn HOW to create an empowered life with tools they can use immediately and for the rest of their life. This is where you come in…

What is the #1 burning question you have about how to live empowered?

No question is too silly or too deep. By sharing your question, you’ll help me to help you and thousands of other women across the country to love themselves and maintain a sense of purpose, passion, and peace…everyday. After you submit your question by clicking the box below, I’ll be following up with blog posts answering your biggest questions. And no worries…Your identity will be kept confidential. Thank you so much!

Power Thoughts…How to use Affirmations to Live Empowered! Living an empowered life is what I passionately teach and I am very aware of how “power thoughts” and the application of affirmations help us experience that life. But today I am here to confess that I am guilty. Yes, I said guilty. I am guilty of […]

Power Thoughts…How to use Affirmations to Live Empowered!

Living an empowered life is what I passionately teach and I am very aware of how “power thoughts” and the application of affirmations help us experience that life. But today I am here to confess that I am guilty. Yes, I said guilty. I am guilty of not reading my affirmations on a regular basis and recently I had a painful reminder of the consequences.

Fear decided to stop in for a visit this week and unfortunately I let it stay a few days. Big mistake! I found myself almost paralyzed. Just as I am about to launch my D.R.E.A.M. Experience for Women, I heard this voice inside telling me that I would fail, that nobody cares about what I am doing, and who did I think I was trying to teach other women how to love themselves and love their lives. Even though I know in my heart I am following God’s plan, I let myself forget when I briefly lost my focus. Why am I so open and transparent? I am sharing with you because this story is not unique to me and I want to show you how you can prevent this in your life. This is not the first time I have experienced this feeling of being stuck, overwhelmed and afraid of failing. The good news is that there is a practical solution.

Change your focus by changing your thoughts!

It is critical to focus on what moves us forward by thinking things that move us forward. You may wonder “How do I do this and how is it possible with all the distractions in my life?” Let me introduce you to the power of positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are used to combat the constant negative beliefs and feelings, many of us harbor deep in our subconscious mind.

They are positive statements that describe a desired situation, often repeated, until they get impressed on the subconscious mind, which consequently is triggered into positive action, to make the positive statement come true. Positive affirmations can be applied to every area of our lives; our careers, health, relationships, finances, etc. They help to:

Calm our emotions.

Lift us up and raise our self-esteem.

Motivate us.

Heal past hurts.

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” ― Henry David Thoreau

One very important key is to write them immediately after a negative thought enters your mind. For example, I could have prevented fear from taking over if I had reminded myself the truth with the following affirmations: “I am a successful teacher, speaker and coach. Women are waiting to hear this life changing message. I am unique and am using my gifts to impact lives in positive ways.”

Remember, negative thoughts can damage our lives and fear can stop us in our tracks if we let it. It does not matter who we are, we all experience this to one degree or another. Affirmations can help eliminate the thoughts and lies that have been holding you back from truly loving yourself and loving your life. This is an amazingly powerful, practical tool. I cannot stress this enough.

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” ― Peace Pilgrim

We can live empowered by creating the life we desire and applying positive thinking with positive actions. We can choose our thoughts but we need to do this ON PURPOSE! I encourage you to immediately take control of your thoughts before they take control of you! When negative thoughts enter your mind turn them into positive thoughts (affirmations) and write them down. If you desire, you can write them on index cards and keep them close by. The more you read them the more your thoughts will change as well as your focus. If you do this you too will experience greater peace, passion, purpose and power!

This is the first in a series of articles based on the power of affirmations. In follow up articles I will share how to apply affirmations in specific situations as well as give examples of written affirmations you can use in your life. If you would like to receive these directly in your inbox, click below.

This article is related to Principle 2… Think on Purpose in my book The 12 Principles…How to Live an Empowered Life. I welcome you to download this free Ebook and for a limited time, you will receive specials and bonus material. Simply click below.

Morals and Values: How Will You Live? Do you remember the saying “A man’s good handshake is all you need”? This was referring to the belief that you did not need a contract to do business; where you could trust your fellow man to hold himself to his word and you did not second guess […]

Morals and Values: How Will You Live?

Do you remember the saying “A man’s good handshake is all you need”? This was referring to the belief that you did not need a contract to do business; where you could trust your fellow man to hold himself to his word and you did not second guess his motives. Yes, this refers to women too. I remember that saying. I also remember the family gathering for dinner every Sunday, not locking our doors at night, riding my bicycle on back country roads without an adult, safely giving a hitch hiker a ride. Thanks to a few scary movies, I am not sure I will do that anymore. Unfortunately this decision is not just based on the events captured in a scary movie.

Values, morals, integrity, trust, honesty, good character, and not just knowing the difference between right and wrong, but doing what is right; these things used to be more of a priority in people’s lives.

Do these things still exist? Have our priorities changed? Do people still believe in a good handshake or has it become more important to look out for ourselves and “make a buck” despite how we earn it? My Mom and my teachers used to call me a dreamer. I prefer “optimist” because I do still believe in these things. I believe people want to be good and do good things. There is so much good in the world despite the strife in our homes, businesses, government, and nation. I see the love in people that join together after a tornado destroys their community, the support received when someone is diagnosed with cancer, the actions taken to dig wells with clean drinking water for 3rd world countries and in the hearts of a family that prays together. Good does exist! And so do good people. Will we ever get back to the days where a handshake is all we need? Perhaps not but we can all do something to make our world a better place as well as our homes, workplaces, and communities. It does not have to be an overwhelming project or a huge commitment of your time. So where can we start? With all things big and small, we just need to take a step in the right direction. Each step starts with a decision. That’s it; a decision.

How will you live today?

How will you choose to treat another? How will you respond to negativity and imperfect people? What attitude will you decide to have? Will you complain today or choose gratitude? Will you think before you speak? Will you choose words to support and lift another? What will your priorities be today? Will you donate to someone in need? Will you honor yourself, your family, your God?

How will you live today? What choices will you make to shine your light and restore more good to the world?

Many of us have experienced an occasional episode of fighting at Christmas. On a daily basis we have opportunities to become offended, displeased, angry, and disappointed. Anytime we are dealing with other people we have a high probability of this happening and the holidays are no exception. Whether someone cuts you off in traffic, your […]

Many of us have experienced an occasional episode of fighting at Christmas. On a daily basis we have opportunities to become offended, displeased, angry, and disappointed. Anytime we are dealing with other people we have a high probability of this happening and the holidays are no exception. Whether someone cuts you off in traffic, your husband shrinks your new dress in the dryer or Uncle Jimmy backs into your new car Christmas Eve, there is a chance you can lose your peace. This pertains to anytime we are with people; shopping, family functions, Christmas parties, etc.

Here are my 3 simple steps you can easily recall and apply if/when you feel your blood pressure start to rise as a result of a friend or family member this week:

Decide what you want.

Before leaving your house or getting out of bed think about what you want regarding the day ahead. Do you want to deal with rude people shopping or do you want to enjoy Christmas shopping for the ones you love? Do you want to fight with your in laws or do you want to have fun at your family gatherings?

Do your part in advance:

Prepare beforehand. Know what “sets you off” or what irritates you and do what you can. For example this may mean getting enough sleep or not being in a hurry. Being tired and rushing rarely benefit any of us.

Do what you can.

Know what you can control and do what you can to keep your peace and enjoy everything. How? You can start by not giving in to the things or people that try to steal your peace and joy. Consider also not analyzing or focusing on a negative a situation. And perhaps the best thing you can do is “bite your tongue”, change the subject, or politely walk away. Instead, put your energy into something positive like playing a game with your favorite uncle, or listen to your Grandma share her favorite childhood memories.

Most importantly, keep in mind that you can only control yourself, nobody else and trying to do so only causes frustration and is a waste of your energy. Control what you can, being yourself, and let go of what you cannot.

Your peace and joy belong to you! Don’t give it away! Focus on what is important.

Peace equals power. When we lose our peace or “our cool” that is when we lose our power or give our power away. When we can remain at peace we are able to stay in control of our emotions and our actions and can enjoy our day.

Make a decision this Christmas. Choose peace, love, and joy and create wonderful memories. Let me know how this worked for you!

How To Stay Focused And Enjoy The Holidays… Oh the holidays, what a joyful time of year until you look at your “to do” list. Drag out boxes of decorations, decorate the tree, hang Christmas lights, shop for everyone, oh but what do they want?, email or call everyone for their Christmas list, then go […]

How To Stay Focused And Enjoy The Holidays… Oh the holidays, what a joyful time of year until you look at your “to do” list. Drag out boxes of decorations, decorate the tree, hang Christmas lights, shop for everyone, oh but what do they want?, email or call everyone for their Christmas list, then go shopping, dig out the wrapping paper from the basement corner, wrap the presents, bake cookies, decorate cookies, clean the kitchen after baking and decorating the cookies, find an outfit for all the Christmas parties or hope to fit into the ones you already have, meet with friends that are in from out of town, communicate with all parties to finalize when, where, what time, and what can I bring?, look up recipes to figure out what to make, go grocery shopping for all ingredients, crap…Christmas cards, ugh…everyday stuff…laundry, making dinners, cleaning the house, oh yeah…the 8-5 job, exercise, sleep… SCREAM!

Don’t get me wrong. I love the holidays and the magic of this season. However I also understand the pressure it can bring as well as the desire many woman have to try and do it all. But if we are speeding 90 miles an hour getting ready for the holidays, we may not slow down in time and end up flying right by them. When January arrives we may feel exhausted with empty wallets and clothes that fit a bit too tight.

Let each decision you make move you closer to what you want, not further from it.

In the article I also expressed my decision to enjoy the holidays before they arrive. In the follow up article Plan Your Holidays… I shared my action steps to what I want this Holiday season.

In this article I want to share with you tips and tools you can use to keep your focus and make decisions that move you closer to what you want.

How A Simple Index Card Can Help You Keep Your Focus

I do believe everyone wants to enjoy this holiday season. So this may be the best “desire” to focus on in this article. So, if this is what we want, how can we keep our focus despite the additional distractions the holidays can bring? And, what decisions can we make that will move us closer?

Keeping our focus is similar to reminding ourselves to do something. If we want to remember to call a friend we may write a reminder on a sticky note or put it in our calendar or even set our alarm on our phone. Obviously we want to post our notes where we will see them. You can do the same thing with your desire to enjoy the holidays.

Personally, I like to write on an index card what I want to focus on and then I tape it on my bathroom mirror where I know where I will see it often.

You may think “Yeah, this is great but how can I enjoy the holidays when there is so much to do and so little time to do it?”

Make Decisions That Support You And Your Focused Desire

It is true that some things are beyond our control. Recognizing what is within our control and letting go of what is not can bring each of us so much peace. The only thing we can truly control is ourselves and this starts with the decisions we make.

Every decision we make will either move us closer to what we want or further from it. For example if I want to pay off my credit card but decide to purchase a new outfit that I don’t need and charge it to my credit card that obviously does not move me closer to a zero balance on my credit card.

You Do NOT Have To “Do It All” – Give Yourself Permission To Simplify

When it comes to the holidays, Christmas especially, we women can take on too much in addition to what we already do. We have great expectations of doing all these things and somewhere in the middle we can become frustrated and overwhelmed trying to do it all.

But what if we don’t have to do it all? Who said we had to bake 20 different variations of Christmas cookies? Just because your Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma did, does that mean we have to? What if we only made one kind or bought (gasp) cookies? What would be wrong with that?

This is an example of making decisions that move us closer to enjoying the holidays. Enjoying the holidays may mean simplifying or even saying no to things, events, or even people.

This is what I needed to do recently. I put unnecessary pressure on myself and ended up frustrated, overwhelmed, and a little anxious. Thankfully, it only lasted a few days before I realized what I needed to do.

I asked myself, “What absolutely HAS to get done today?” Then I gave myself permission to slow down, simplify, and delegate.

Keeping Your Focus Will Help You Overcome The Challenges Heading Your Way

So, what decisions can you make to help you enjoy the holidays? Can you delegate anything on your “to do” list? Can you give your neighbor girl $20 to do your Christmas wrapping? Can you get help cleaning the house or throw out your white glove this month? Perhaps your family can draw names for Christmas instead of purchasing gifts for everyone. Maybe you can pass on the competition with your neighbors in who has the most lights on their house.

Why keep your focus…because things and people, not knowingly, will challenge you and try to distract you from what you want. We need to keep our focus by keeping our desire in front of us as a continual reminder.

It is like driving in a snow storm. It is critical to keep our eyes where we are going. The last thing we want is to take our eyes off the road and end up stuck in a snow bank.

The simple act of writing what we want on an index card or sticky note is very powerful. It reminds us what is important and provides extra strength to say no to what does not bring us closer to what we want.

Here’s What To Do:

Write what you want on an index card, sticky note, or set a reminder or alarm on your smartphone. If you struggle with what is on your “to do” list, ask yourself what is most important. Prioritize your list then ask yourself with each decision “Will this help me achieve what I want or keep me from it?”

Next week… I will share tips on how to keep your peace with people.

It is my desire to empower you with tools and practical tips you can use. If you find this helpful, please share it!

With the holidays here you may already have a list of things to do and gifts to buy. You may be wondering how you will accomplish everything, how much things will cost, and how you will deal with Aunt Betty at Christmas dinner. Before it is too late I encourage you to make a list […]

With the holidays here you may already have a list of things to do and gifts to buy. You may be wondering how you will accomplish everything, how much things will cost, and how you will deal with Aunt Betty at Christmas dinner. Before it is too late I encourage you to make a list of what you do want. And keep in mind that no matter what it is in life you want, you must move toward it to experience it. This is called action. We hear the statement, “Good things come to those who wait.” While I agree with this to a degree, I still believe if we wait on the couch for Mr. Right to walk in the door we may be waiting a long time. We need to do our part to experience what we desire.

Let each decision you make move you closer to what you want, not further from it.

In the article I also expressed my decision to enjoy the holidays before they arrive. Today I am sharing with you my list with the action steps I am taking to experience what I desire. This is just an example of what you can do with your list if you wish. What I want this year:

Enjoy the magic of the season and keep the Christmas Spirit within me.

For me, this means not being too busy, allowing more play time, taking more weekends off to do what I love and be with those I love. Therefore, I write in my calendar the events with family first and mark off time for other activities I am open to do. To ignite my Christmas Spirit, I tune in to the Hallmark channel late in November. They feature “feel good” movies with messages of love, peace, forgiveness, and new beginnings. A few good movies to start then adding some Christmas music, decorating the tree, and an annual trip my husband and I take to Galena, Illinois in early December and I am oozing with Christmas Spirit.

Peace within my family.

Based on my clients’ and my own life, it is safe for me to say that many of us experience strife from time to time within our families. I am choosing to remain peaceful during this holiday season and after. I have made a decision to enjoy time with my family and focus on their gifts, not their shortcomings. Any negativity, I have decided in advance, will bounce off of me like a rubber ball to pavement. I may celebrate with a glass of wine as well. If you struggle with this and would like to read more about how to deal with challenging people, I encourage you to check out my article [When People Attack] Dealing With Challenging Behaviors – Why Are Some People So Challenging?

Stay balanced.

This involves taking my M.E.D.S. Meditation (quiet prayer time), Exercise (many forms of activity), Diet (eating healthy 80% of the time), and Sleep (sleep means sleep!). These are all very important for me on a daily basis. I may not always achieve them but I do what I can to make them priority. On a weekly basis I am sure to schedule these things. This means blocking off time in my calendar and scheduling around them.

Maintain a healthy weight.

To maintain a healthy weight I will make wise decisions with what I consume. Oh believe me, I will eat and enjoy my food. I love my sweets and will be sure to add a few to my plate. I will practice moderation and spacing out my indulgences.

Stay within a sensible budget.

I do love to give and bless others; however, it is wise for me to stay within a sensible budget. I will know in beforehand what I have to invest in gift giving. I will then make a list of gift recipients and decide how much to allow for each. I may use cash for these purchases to be sure to keep within the budget. My friends and I already have an understanding about gift giving. We choose to share a cup of coffee or glass of wine together and enjoy each other’s company. These are just examples of how you can take action and be prepared in advance.

Napoleon Hill says, “Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.”

We have what it takes to experience great things in life. Each one of us has the ability because we all have the same thing…a mind to make a decision. That is where it starts; with one decision. You may not have all the resources you think you need, but if you can just decide what it is you want and then do what you can by taking your first steps, great things are possible and you are more likely to experience what you desire.

Next week I will share with you tips on how to keep your focus and how to make decisions that move you even closer to what you want.

It is my desire to empower you with tools and practical tips you can use. If you find this helpful, please encourage someone else by sharing it!

]]>http://nancydahlke.com/blog/plan-holidays-action-required/feed/0[Personal Reflections] Dreading the Holidays? What you need to know now to get what you really want!http://nancydahlke.com/blog/dreading-holidays-need-know-now-get-really-want/
http://nancydahlke.com/blog/dreading-holidays-need-know-now-get-really-want/#respondMon, 24 Nov 2014 22:23:07 +0000http://nancydahlke.com/?p=785Nancy Dahlke

The other day I found myself reminiscing about the holidays as a child and the many years we celebrated the same family traditions. It was a magical time of year that seems to only be appreciated through the eyes of a child. Little did I know then how much I would miss those days. Looking […]

The other day I found myself reminiscing about the holidays as a child and the many years we celebrated the same family traditions. It was a magical time of year that seems to only be appreciated through the eyes of a child. Little did I know then how much I would miss those days.

Looking back I remember my sisters and I searching the house and finding the Christmas gifts Mom tried to hide, shaking them in hopes we would guess what was inside. Mom worked hard to make Christmas special. She was an amazing cook and loved to bake. We would walk into the kitchen and find her almost buried by her beautiful creations. There would be trays of cherries, strawberries, and peanut butter all dipped in chocolate, large kitchen bags filled with caramel corn, and of course a variety of cookies and bars waiting to be piled into Tupperware containers. My sisters and I would frost and decorate the cut out cookies and drop the Hershey kisses in the center of the peanut blossoms. The peanut blossoms were made especially for Santa because they were his favorite. Wink… wink…

I loved our Christmas Eve tradition of going to Church, visiting my Grandma that lived closest, and arriving home to find Santa had already been there. He stopped at our house first you know. Mom would have an array of snacks and appetizers made for us including bacon wrapped chestnuts, shrimp cocktail, cheese, crackers, pickled herring for her and I, pork hocks for Dad and my sisters, and of course a huge tray piled high with her baked goods.

My family opened gifts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was spent at Grandma and Grandpa’s surrounded by our aunts, uncles, and cousins. Like my Mom, Grandma was also a hard working farm wife and was sure to spoil us with a huge home cooked meal and lots of presents. It was tradition to sit around the family room in a huge circle as each of us opened and proudly showcased our gifts. And after the large meal, dessert, and gift opening Grandpa would take a nap before going back to the barn to milk cows.

Hopefully like me, you too have special childhood Christmas memories. However, as we grow older, move out, meet significant others, or get married, our family traditions and the magic around the holidays change. We are suddenly and sadly introduced to what many call a stressful time of year and in time may even begin dreading the holidays. We may still feel the Christmas Spirit but sometimes it can be over taken by over-committed schedules, maxed out credit cards, and family feuds.

Well, I say it is time to take back Christmas and the whole holiday season! This year I have decided to enjoy the holidays and keep my Christmas Spirit. This is the time of year we pay most attention to thanksgiving, gratitude, peace, and love. So I am committed to focus on these things despite the distractions that may arise. If you want to know how I am doing this, please read on.

One thing I have learned and that I teach is the importance of knowing what we want. Why is this important? When you know what you want, you know where you are going and you have a point of focus. You have purpose, motivation, and the ability to make decisions with more ease.

So, first thing, I have made a decision to enjoy the holidays before they arrive. Next, I have made a list of what I want and I keep it on my bathroom mirror as a constant reminder of what I am focusing on. I also know I need to do my part in experiencing joy this holiday season and will share that with you in a later post. I will give you a hint…it is not all about a glass of wine. There are other ways we can move toward what we want this holiday season without involving Miss Merlot or Mr. Jack Daniels.

What I am sharing with you today are some practical tools you can use to help you experience great things too. Below are 4 things you can do now.

Write down what you want to experience.

Think about what you can do to move toward it.

Keep your focus on what you want.

Let each decision you make move you closer to what you want, not further from it.

Next week I will share with you tips on how to keep your focus with the distractions you may face. For now, I encourage you to take a few minutes to write down what you want this holiday season. What do you want to experience? Is it peace within your family, more balance, less commitments, more time doing what you love? If inspired, share it with your spouse, significant other, family or friend.

Check out my Facebook page and share your thoughts. I would love to hear any tips you have as well.

Spiritual Empowerment – 10 Benefits of Trusting your Source Did you know as a Believer, all these benefits and so many more are available for you? We are all on our own unique journey, learning and growing at our own pace. It is my desire that no matter where you are or what or who […]

Did you know as a Believer, all these benefits and so many more are available for you? We are all on our own unique journey, learning and growing at our own pace. It is my desire that no matter where you are or what or who you define as your Source, you not only discover, but experience these beautiful blessings! As you read through the benefits below, take a moment to reflect on your own spiritual journey.

Allow this list to encourage and inspire you no matter where you are. Remember, where you are is where you are meant to be but not where you are meant to stay.

1. You can be confident and fearless.

2. You can accept and forgive yourself and others.

3. You are safe, protected, and divinely lead.

4. You are never alone and everything and everyone you need is provided for you.

5. You are always growing, learning, and moving forward in your life.

6. You can have peace even when you do not have all the answers.

7. You can focus and freely express your gifts, talents, and uniqueness.

8. You have peace, gratitude, and the ability to enjoy all the blessings that surround you.

Proverbs 3:5-6Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. The definition of trust is “a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something”. Trust can also be defined as confidence, belief, faith, certainty, and assurance.

Personal Reflections… We focus so much on what we want in our future that we neglect to see all we currently have! Here are some words of encouragement for your personal reflections: Choose today to love the people you are with; enjoy them. Look and appreciate the God given beauty that surrounds us every moment […]

Personal Reflections… We focus so much on what we want in our future that we neglect to see all we currently have! Here are some words of encouragement for your personal reflections:

Choose today to love the people you are with; enjoy them.

Look and appreciate the God given beauty that surrounds us every moment of every day. Choose to see beauty in the flowers, the trees; the sunrise and sunset. Revel in the fact that we can see, we can hear, smell, taste and we can feel. Be thankful today.

Do something that makes you feel good.

Raise your vibration. Slow down! What is right in front of you? Focus on love, on joy, peace and happiness. Focus on NOW! Because right now you have more than you need. Enjoy what God has already given you. “Now” is perfect just as it is.

At the end of the day, It is really the simplest of things that fulfill us; the laughter of a child, the smell of spring blossoms, the beauty in a sunset, moments with those we love, a hug or tender touch. And when you allow yourself to slow down and feel God’s love all around you; see all He has created for us to enjoy; well what more could we ask for?

Dealing with challenging behaviors…It can be frustrating when dealing with challenging people and behaviors. Certain individuals can sometimes rub us the wrong way. And unfortunately there may be times when we react negatively instead of taking a moment to recognize our differences. After all, we are all created differently. We think different, act different, and […]

Dealing with challenging behaviors…It can be frustrating when dealing with challenging people and behaviors. Certain individuals can sometimes rub us the wrong way. And unfortunately there may be times when we react negatively instead of taking a moment to recognize our differences. After all, we are all created differently. We think different, act different, and have our own beliefs. We are also equipped with unique gifts and qualities. Here are some insights you may consider the next time you feel like someone is not making your life easy:

First we need to understand that many challenging people are operating out of fear; fear of the unknown, fear of not being accepted or being good enough, and worthy.

Sometimes we may be a trigger for this person because something about us reminds them of a past hurt.

When in fear, we tend to react …not always realizing that it is our fear causing our emotions and behavior.

Challenging people may also have a lack of self esteem and confidence.

They may not have a good support group of friends and family and may feel very alone.

Challenging people may not be physically well.

Perhaps you can ask yourself, “How do I behave when I am not feeling well?”

A challenging person’s beliefs may not be similar to ours, causing us to see things differently. Beliefs are our perspectives and what we believe to be true based on our past. Usually what we believe is only someone’s opinion that we have accepted as our own. It may not even be true.

Challenging people may be going through personal trials that we are unaware of.

So…the next time you come face to face with a “challenging” person, consider taking a moment to accept where they are, and be less consumed with how their behavior makes you feel. This will not only allow you to feel better and experience greater peace, it will give you the opportunity to be an example of what kindness and compassion looks like.

Personal Growth – Doing This One Simple Act Can Keep You Positive and Help You Achieve Your Goals Often times when we set a goal we focus so much on moving forward to reach it that we neglect to see how far we have come. Now, we can still reach our goals but if we […]

Personal Growth – Doing This One Simple Act Can Keep You Positive and Help You Achieve Your Goals

Often times when we set a goal we focus so much on moving forward to reach it that we neglect to see how far we have come. Now, we can still reach our goals but if we only focus on the end result it may take longer and may not be as enjoyable. I believe we can accomplish our dreams, goals, and desires, while loving ourselves, our life and our journey.

At some point during our quest most of us will face challenges and disappointments. It is inevitable. During these times it may be easy to feel frustrated and impatient. Our thoughts can become negative and if neglected, develop into distractions. If we consistently give in to the negative thoughts and voices in our head, we may lose complete site of our dreams and desires.

Sadly, this is the story of many lost and forgotten dreams. Ah but this does not have to be the end of your dreams and desires. I am so grateful to have discovered a powerful, yet practical tool that allows me to enjoy my journey while moving toward my dreams and desires. It has allowed me to accept where I am; knowing I am moving forward and it is easy to view any challenge as a stepping stone and lesson learned.

What is it? It is the simple act of writing down my successes. That is it. Writing down everything that helps me move closer to my goals has created an amazing shift in my life. Why, because success is the best motivator. And when we focus on our successes as well as our goals, we are able to stay more positive and hopeful. We can see how we are moving forward and even when challenges arise we can feel confident that we will find a lesson as well as a new stepping stone to where we are going.

It is much easier to keep our thoughts and perspectives healthy as well. You may think that just having your successes in your mind is enough but believe me when I say days later, when its gloomy outside and things don’t feel like they’re going your way, you won’t easily remember a few days before when you had a huge success.

Anytime we are moving forward we will run into negative people and circumstances that could shake us. Be prepared! Writing down every little success is not a waste of time but an investment. So…write down your successes today!